Going Beyond Good with Downloads

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This week's demos are big fun, little filler.

By David Adams

Some weeks at IGN Downloads, it's really just a matter of posting as many of the new mods, patches, and movies that I can, and only occasionally coming across a new demo that I want to install and play right away. But this week was one of those golden seven days when not only did one of those demos appear, but a whole bunch of them popped up. It was almost overwhelming. But now that you've got the weekend, you can stay inside in your pajamas and download any one of these worthy samples. Even better, grab several. They're all great.

XIII Multiplayer Demo (157.7 MB) XIII is getting closer and closer to release, and the buzz on the game is getting to a very healthy high volume. With good reason: what it may lack in FPS innovation, it more than makes up for in sheer polish and style. That works in this multiplayer demo, too. Sure, you've played deathmatches like this before. But they've never looked quite this stylish.

Beyond Good & Evil Demo (Europe) (105 MB) My personal favorite. From the mind of Michel Arcel (the genius behind Rayman 2, still one of the best gaming experiences to be had anywhere) comes this epic, stylish action-adventure. The demo is short, but very sweet. And it's already obvious BG&E will have what so many other games lack: a real sense of character and humanity. Note that this is the European version of the demo. Still worth seeing, but there will also be a US version along shortly.

Lords of EverQuest Elddar Alliance Demo (409 MB) Sony Online Entertainment releases the second in its series of Lords of EverQuest demos. If you're a fan of the EverQuest and Warcraft-style RTS's, you won't go wrong checking this one out.

Yager Updated Demo (202.9 MB) I'm a big champion of the gaming underdogs, at least the ones that deserve a lot more attention. And Yager certainly fits in that category. It's uncertain whether this will even be released on the US, but at least we get a little taste in this updated demo (the mouse controls work properly now). It's beautiful, it's fast-paced, and like BG&E, it's full of character.

Well, there you go. Another week, another bunch of great goodies at IGN Downloads. This week is especially high in the quality department, and if some of these demos are any indication, it looks like this holiday season is going to be a strong one for gaming. We can hardly wait.